Movable wall system



July 21, 1964 M. D. KAHLER 3,141,207

MOVABLE WALL SYSTEM Filed April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

MAkV/N 0. KAHL 5E.

A 7' TORNIE YS' July 21, 1964 M. D. KAHLER 3,141,207

MOVABLE WALL SYSTEM Filed April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

MARVIN 0: mm 5g A TTORNE Y.$

United States Patent Ofiice $141267 Patented July 21, 1964 3,141,207MQVABLE WALL SYSTEM Marvin I). Kahler, 1933 Long Lake Shore Drive,Orchard Lake, Mich. Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 134,407 13 Claims. (Cl.20-19) This invention relates to building equipment and, in particular,to movable wall systems for buildings.

One object of this invention is to provide a movable wall system wherebya room of a building may be quickly and easily subdivided by partitionscomposed of partition panels which can be transferred from a storagelocation to any selected one of a series of arrangements of partitionsdetermined by a network of ceiling tracks upon which the partitionpanels are rolled and from which they are suspended.

Another object is to provide a movable wall system of the foregoingcharacter wherein the partition panels are transported between thestorage and the use locations by panel carriers including carriageswhich constitute intermediate vehicles for such transportation.

Another object is to provide a movable wall system of the foregoingcharacter wherein the partition panels are of a variety of forms andmaterials, including doors, windows, ventilating louvers and otheradaptations to different specific conditions and situations, and formedof opaque, transparent or translucent materials.

Another object is to provide a movable wall system of the foregoingcharacter wherein the bottom portions of the partition panels optionallycontain expansible base shoes adapted to be raised and lowered to fillthe gap otherwise occurring between the panel and the floor as well asto hold the panel firmly in position and prevent it from sliding orswinging.

Another object is to provide a movable wall system of the foregoingcharacter wherein automatic locking and aligning means is provided forautomatically preventing transfer of a panel between a ceiling track andits respective carriage until the track and carriage are preciselyaligned with one another.

Another object is to provide a movable wall system of the foregoingcharacter wherein a modified paneltransporting vehicle carries thepanels from a storage location to the room where they are to be usedwihtout the necessity of providing ceiling tracks or rails between thestorage area and the room to be partitioned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a movable wall structuresystem according to one form of the invention, with the ceiling tracksshown in dotted lines and with the panels shown in solid lines adjacenttheir storage location and in dotted lines ready for transfer to certainof the ceiling tracks;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, taken along the line2-2 in FIGURE 1, showing a ceiling-track-supported panel transfercarriage;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of a floor-supported panel transfer truckdispensing with the ceiling transfer tracks of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a right-handed end elevation of the panel transfer truckshown in FIGURE 3, disposed in alignment with a room partition ceilingtrack, with one of the panels transferred thereto;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the upper portionof the ceiling-mounted carriage of FIGURES l and 2, showing details ofthe construction thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of one of thepartition panels of FIGURE 5, after its transfer to a ceiling track inthe partitioned room;

FIGURE 7 is a right-hand side elevation of the construction shown inFIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the upper portionof a panel transfer carriage and its supporting rail, together with anautomatic alignment lock for preventing transfer of the panel exceptwhen in alignment with the room ceiling track;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section taken along line 99 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the automatic alignment lock shown inFIGURE 8, with the trolley mechanism omitted;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection of anexpansible panel base shoe for filling the gap between the bottom of apanel and the floor, taken along the line ll111 in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through thepanel base shoe of FIGURE 11, taken along the line 1212 therein;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of a modification ofthe expansible panel floor shoe of FIGURE 11 equipped with a positivelocking connection with the floor; and

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through thejunction between panels in FIGURE 1, showing the tongue-and-grooveconnection.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 and 2 show a movablepartition or wall system, generally designated 20, according to one formof the invention, as consisting generally of a stationary panel storagerack 22, a pair of laterally-spaced parallel panel transfer ordistribution carriages 24 interconnected by the cross rails 64 describedbelow (FIGURE 5) to form a panel carrier, generally designated 25. Thelatter carries multiple movable partition panels 26, one vertical edgeof which may be tongued (FIGURE 14) and the opposite edge groove forinteifitting. The panels 26 may be solid, transparent or translucent orequipped with ventilation louvers as at 27 or screening as at 29, orglass as at 31 or may constitute a door as at 33 (FIGURE 2). The door 33may likewise be solid or transparent or translucent or possessventilation louvers or screening, as in the case of the partition panels26. The panel carrier 25 with its twin carriages 24 travels uponceding-mounted tracks 28 mounted on a ceiling portion 3%), intoalignment with room subdividing ceiling partition tracks 32 and 34mounted on a room ceiling portion 36 within a room or other area 38 tobe subdivided by the partition panels 26.

The room partition tracks 32 and 34 cross one another at right angleswith narrow gaps at their intersections, similar to the gaps in crossingrailroad tracks and disposed in a ceiling track network or grid,generally designated 40. The room ceiling portion 36 is preferablydisposed on a level below the transfer ceiling portion 30 with a step 42therebetween (FIGURE 2) in order to bring the panels 26 on theircarriage 24 into alignment on the same horizontal level with the roompartition ceiling tracks 32 and 34. The panel storage rack 22 containssimilar stationary ceiling-mounted storage tracks 35 from which thepanels 26 are suspended when not in use, aligned with the tracks of thepanel carriage 25, as described below. Each carriage 24 has threelongitudinally-spaced trolley hangers 44, each consisting of a pair ofspaced parallel metal side plates 46 between which extend axle bolts 48.Mounted upon the axle bolts 48 are trolley wheels 50 traveling upon thelower flanges 52 of the transfer or distribution tracks 28, the upperflanges 54 of which are secured, as by suitable brackets describedbelow, to the storage and transfer area ceiling 30 and depend therefrom.The side plates 46 of each hanger 44 are bolted or otherwise secured toa beam, 56 which is drilled vertically to receive the shanks of bolts58, the heads of which rest upon the upper side of the beam 56.Supported by the bolts 58 is a panel carrier 60 which is slotted as at62 in spaced parallel locations to receive carriage panel tracks 64having webs 66 provided with upper, intermedate and lower flanges 68, 70and 72 respectively. The panel tracks 64 are thus of a cross-sectionwhich might be described as a double-I-section, with an upper I-sectionsuperimposed upon a lower I-section. The upper I-section containing theflanges 68 and 70 fits into the slots 66, whereas the lower I-sectionwith the lower flange 72 serves to rollably support the panels 26. Twoof the panel carriages travel side by side in spaced parallelrelationship upon the parallel ceiling-mounted rails 28 (FIGURE 1), andare interconnected by the tracks 64 to form the panel carrier 25 (FIGURE2).

Each panel 26, as its name suggests, includes a partition member 74(FIGURE to the upper edge of which is secured a trolley unit 76 and tothe lower edge an expansible base shoe unit 78. shown in more detail inFIGURES and 11, is adapted to be raised or lowered at the will of theoperator in the manner explained below, in order to fill the gap betweenthe partition member 74 and the floor while the room 38 is partitionedoff yet to be raised in order not to interfere with transport while thepanel 26 is being moved from place to place.

The swiveling action provided by the pivot bolts 58 enables the panelcarrier 25 more easily to traverse the turns or bends 102 (FIGURE 1) inthe transfer or distribution tracks 28. Each panel 26 is provided withat least three of the trolley units 76 for maintaining the panel 26 in alevel position and to facilitate transfer from track to track. Thetrolley units 76 are secured at spaced locations along the upper edgeportion 80 of each partition member 74. Each trolley unit 76 consists ofa channelshaped base 82 (FIGURE 5) secured to the upper edge 80 of thepartition member 84, as by having indenting flanges 84 enteringcorresponding grooves 86 on opposite sides of the upper edge portion 80of the partition member 74. The base 82 on its upper side has a webportion 88 carrying a swivel bolt 90 which also passes through the webportion 92 of a U-shaped or channel-shaped trolley wheel mount 84, theside plates or flanges 96 of which are bored to receive axle bolts 98upon which trolley wheels 100 are rotatably mounted. The trolley wheels100 (FIG- URE 5) rest upon and roll along the lower flanges 72 of thecarriage tracks 64.

The panel storage tracks 35 and the room ceiling tracks 32 and 34 aresupported in any suitable manner, such as by angle brackets 104 (FIGURES6 and 7) bolted or otherwise secured to the ceiling beams 106 and eitherdepending from or flush with the room ceiling 36, as desired. In FIGURES6 and 7, the movable partition panel 26 is shown in the position itoccupies immediately after being transferred to the ceiling partitiontrack, here one of the tracks 34, from the carriage track 64. The tracks32 and 34 of the grid or network 40 within the room 38 are of similarconstruction to the carriage tracks 64 (FIG- The base shoe unit 78,

URE 5) and are similarly mounted in T-slots in the ceil: ing brackets104 and held in position by holddown screws 110.

The modified panel transfer vehicles, generally designated 111, shown inFIGURES 3 and 4, is for the purpose of transferring panels 26 from astorage location to the edge of the room area 38 without the necessityof providing overhead transfer or distribution tracks 102, as in FIGURESl and 2. Instead, the panel transfer vehicle 111 rolls along the floor Fon rubber-tired wheels 112 rotatably mounted on axles 113 placed at thefour lower bent corners 114 of the uprights 115 of a vehicle frame orchassis 116. The uprights 115 are interconnected at their upper ends bylongitudinal members 117 and transverse members 118. A short tracksection or sections 119 is secured to and depends from the cross members118 of the frame 116 in a manner similar to the distribution track ortracks 28 of FIGURES l and 2. In the panel transfer or distributionvehicle 111, however, the track section or sections 119 move with thevehicle 111 rather than being stationarily mounted on the ceiling 30 asin FIGURE 2. The remainder of the construction is similar to that shownin FIGURE 5 and employs the same panel transfer carriages 24, carriagetracks 64, trolley units 76 and partition members 74 of the panels 26.The transfer operation, as described below, is also similar, taking intoaccount the fact that the vehicle 111 rolls along the fioor F instead ofusing the ceiling-mounted distribution track 28.

The carriage safety locking and alignment device, generally designated120, shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, is for the purpose of automaticallyinsuring that the panel transfer carriages 24 of the panel carrier 25will automatically be aligned with the tracks 32 or 34 to which theirpanel units 26 are to be transferred, so as to remove the danger ofaccident caused by inadvertently rolling a panel 26 off its respectivecarriage track 64 without such alignment having been achieved. For thispurpose, there is mounted on one end of each carriage track 64 a pivotbracket 122 (FIGURE 8) carrying a horizontal pivot pin or axle 124passing through spaced parallel ears 126 (FIGURE 10) extendingdownwardly from the intermediate portion of a forked locking andaligning lever or Y- lever 12S. Extending rearwardly from the ears 126is a forked portion 130 consisting of twin laterally-spaced arms 132terminating in downwardly-bent locking ends or bolts 134 (FIGURE 8). Thelocking ends 134 normally enter locking notches or keepers 136 in theupper edges of the side plates or flanges 96 of the channel-shapedtrolley Wheel carriers 94 of the trolley units 76.

Projecting forwardly from the ears 122 of the forked lever 128 is asingle upwardly-bent arm 138 upon which a roller 140 of ferrous metal,such as iron or steel, is totatably mounted. Cooperating with the roller140 is a magnetic stop, generally designated 142, in the form of a blockof permanently magnetic material, such as the magnetic material knowncommercially as Alnico from its composition as an alloy of aluminum,nickel and cobalt. The bottom portion of the magnetic stop 142 containsa T-slot 144 which loosely and slidably engages the upper portion of theceiling-mounted partition panel track 32 or 34, as the case may be, theT-slot 144 receiving the upper flange 68 and adjacent portion of the web66 thereof. As explained more fully below in connection with theoperation of the invention, the stop block 142 is made slidable in thismanner so that it may be moved along the track 34 away from the endthereof and out of the path of travel of the roller 140 so as to removeit from magnetically influencing the latter when the track 32 or 34 isnot, for the moment, to be provided with panels 26. This arrangecentmakes it possible to bypass certain of the tracks 32 or 34 automaticallyand to intercept other tracks, as desired. The upper portion of eachstop block 142 contains a V-groove 146 into which the roller 140 rollsdownward when attracted by the magnetic stop 142, so as to swing theY-lever 128 around its pivot pin 124 and 'raise the bent locking arms134 out of their respective locking notches or keepers 136. The trolleyunits 7 6 are then free to be rolled off their respective carriagetracks 64, so as to transfer the panel 26 to the selected track, such asthe track 34 shown in FIGURES 8, 9, and 10.

The expansible base shoe unit 78 (FIGURES 11 and 12) which is attachedto the lower edge of each partition member 74 of each panel 26 includesa box channel casing, generally designated 150, having inturned upperedges 152 engaging the correspondingly-grooved lower end portion of eachpartition member 74. Interconnecting the side plates 154 are spacedparallel webs 156 which define a guide passageway or guideway 158 ofrectangular crosssection in which two slide blocks 160 reciprocate inopposite directions (only one of these slide blocks being shown inFIGURES l1 and 12). Each of the two slide blocks 16% has ahorizontaly-directed threaded bore 162 of oppositely-directed threading,one having a right-hand thread and the other having a left-hand thread.The oppositelythreaded bores 162 are threadedly engaged by thecorrespondingly oppositely-threaded end portions 164 of a screw shaft166 having squared ends 165 for the application of a socket wrench (notshown). The central portion 168 of the screw shaft 166 remainsunthreaded and smooth, so that it is rotatably supported in the smoothbore 170 in one or more bearing blocks 172 mounted within the centralportion of the passageway 158.

The lower web 156 of the casing 159 is provided with an elongatedcentral slot 174. Bolted or otherwise secured as at 176 to the lowerside of each slide block 160 is the horizontal upper arm 178 of a bentmember 180 having an inclined slotted lower arm 182 with its lower ends134 curved to encircle and receive the opposite ends of an axle 186.Rotatably mounted on the axle 186 is a grooved roller 188. The bentmembers 181) which face in opposite directions (one only being shown inFIGURE 12) engage the inclined rib portions 199 of a double-ended track192. having two oppositely-inclined end portions 194 interconnected by acentral horizontal portion 196 (FIGURE 12) and bolted or otherwisesecured to a channel member 198.

The channel member 198 has side plates 200 which telescope with andslidably engage the side plates 154 of the box channel casing 156 so asto move upward or downward relatively thereto. The side plates 200 areinterconnected by a base plate 202 having a dovetail groove 204 therein.Received within the dovetail groove 204 is a correspondingly-shapeddovetail rib 206 (FIGURE 11) on the upper edge of a contact plate or bar268 preferably made of rubber or other yieldable material which has highfrictional engagement with the floor F without marring it. The channelmember 138, contact plate 260 and doubleended track 192 colectively formthe major portion of a vertically-movable expansible sill, generallydesignated 210.

The expansible sill 211? is mounted upon bolts 212 secured to the lowerweb 156 and passed through a suitably drilled plate 214 bolted to therail 192 and extend downwardly therefrom (FIGURE 12). Coiled around thelower portion of each bolt 212 with its upper end engaging the plate 214is a helical compression spring 216, the lower end of which engages awasher 218 held in place by a cotter pin 220 inserted through thetransverselydrilled lower end of the bolt 212. In this manner, theexpansible sill 210 is constantly urged upward into the recess 222formed in the lower portion of the box channel casing 159. Enlargedholes in the members 196 and 198 loosely receiving the bolts 212 enablerocking of the base shoe 78 to adapt it to uneven or slanting floors. Inthe modification shown in FIGURE 13, spaced tapered pins 236 are mountedin the base plate 202 and extend downwardly through the contact plate208 into correspondinglylocated sockets 232 in socket plates 234recessed into the fioor F and bolted or otherwise secured in place. Thisconstruction positively prevents shifting of the panels 26.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the paneltransfer carriages 24 of the panel carrier 25 have been loaded withpanels 26 from the panel storage rack 22 by rolling each panel off itsrespective suspension rail in the rack 22 to a corresponding suspensiontrack 64 in the carriages 24. The operator then rolls the pairedcarriages 24 of the panel carrier 25 carrying their panels 26 along thedistribution or transfer tracks 102 until he arrives opposite the firstpartition track 32 or 34 along which the partition panels 26 are to bearranged edge to edge to form a wall. It will be understood that at thistime the base shoes 78 of the panels 26 have been retracted so that asufficient vertical clearance space separates them from the floor F.

If using the modified carrier 111, the operator loads the track sections119 in the manner described for the transfer carriages 24 and then rollsit along the floor F on its ground wheels 112 until it arrives oppositethe track 32 or 34 to be equipped with panels 26.

Having aligned the carrier track 64 or 119 with the ceiling track 32 or34, he then rolls the panel 26 therefrom onto the selected ceiling track32 or 34, moving the paired carriages 24 of the panel carrier 25 orvehicle 111 with the selected ceiling track 32 or 34 in turn as eachpanel 26 is transferred thereto. In this manner, a step-by-stepoperation is carried out until the selected ceiling track 32 or 34 hasbeen filled to the desired extent with panels 26 arranged verticallyedge-to-edge. The operator then fills the remaining tracks 32 or 34selected for reception of panels 26 according to the partitioningarrangement desired. These may include one or more door panels 33, orlouver panels 27, screen panels 29 or glass panels 31, in any sequencedesired.

After the operator has slid each panel, of whatever nature, into itsproper position, he applies a socket wrench (not shown) to eithersquared end of the screw shaft 166 (FIGURE 12) to rotate the latter andconsequently cause the threaded slide blocks 160 to move inwardly towardone another and toward the bearing block 172. As this occurs, theconsequent inward travel of the bent members causes their groovedrollers 188 to climb the inclined ribs 199 of the tracks 194, pushingthem downward and consequently pushing the expansible sill 210 downwardinto engagement with the floor F, at the same time compressing thesprings 216. This action frictionally anchors each panel 26 insuccession betwen the ceiling 36 and floor F, rendering immobile andpreventing sliding or swinging thereof.

When the operator has transferred and anchored all of the panels 26 inthis manner to form the desired parti tioning arrangement in the room33, he returns the carriage 24 or vehicle 111 to the storage areaadjacent the storage racks 2. It will be understood, of course, that itmay be necessary to make several trips: of the panel transfer carriage24- or vehicle 111 if many panels 26 are required to complete thepartitioning arrangement, because of the lack of capacity of thecarriage 24 or vehicle 111 to carry a sufficient number of the panels 26in one load.

If the carriage 24 or vehicle 111 is equipped with the safety aligningand locking device 120 of FIGURES 8 and 9, alignment and locking areautomatically carried out. As each carriage track 64 arrives oppositethe selected room ceiling track 32 or 34 (FIGURES 8 and 9), the magneticstop 142 of which has, been pushed forward into the path of travel ofthe roller 140, the latter is pulled downward by magnetic attractionbetween it and the magnetic stop 142 and rolls downward into theV-groove 146 (FIGURE 9). This action swings the Y-lever 128 clockwisearound its pivot pin 124 (FIGURE 8), lifting the locking ends or bolts134 out of their respective locking notches or keepers 136. This actionreleases the particular trolley unit 76 of the thereby aligned panel 26,permitting the panel 26 to be rolled off the carriage track 64 onto theselected room ceiling track 32 or 34.

To remove the panels 26 from their respective room ceiling tracks 32 or34, the above-described procedure is reversed. The operator releaseseach expansible sill 210 of each base shoe 78 in succession by applyinga socket wrench to the exposed squared end 165 of its particular screwshaft 166, moving the threaded slide blocks 160 outward away from oneanother and consequently causing the bent members 180 and their rollers188 to move outward and downward along the inclined track portions 190(FIGURE 12). As this occurs, the previouslycompressed springs 216 actagainst the plates 214 to push the expansible sills 210 upward into therecess 222 in the bottom of the box channel casing 150, releasing thesill 210 from engagement with the floor F. Each panel 26 may then berolled onto the receiving track 64 of the panel transfer carriage 24, orthe receiving track 119 of the panel transfer vehicle 111 and these,when fully loaded, return with their loads to the storage area 22 wheretheir panels 26 are unloaded onto the storage rack 22. In so dismantlingthe partition arrangement, the automatic aligning and locking devices120 come into action in the manner previously described to preventtransfer of any panel 26 until proper alignment has been achieved.

It will be understood that a similar locking device 120 to that shown inFIGURE 8 is used between the storage tracks 35 and the rails 64 of thepanel carrier 25 so as to prevent panels 26 from rolling off the storagetracks 35 except when the panel carrier 25 is aligned therewith. It willalso be understood that suitable latches (not shown) are mounted at theends of the ceiling tracks 32 and 34 for the similar purpose ofpreventing the panels 26 from rolling off these tracks after the panelcarrier 25 has been withdrawn.

What I claim is:

1. A movable partition system for transfer between a storage area and aroom area of a building with a floor and a ceiling, said systemcomprising a plurality of partition panel suspension room-subdividingtracks secured to and depending from the room area ceiling inlaterally-spaced relationship,

a partition panel transporter mounted for travel between the storagearea and the room area,

said transporter having thereon a multiplicity of partition paneltransfer tracks secured in depending relationship thereto atapproximately the same horizontal level as said partition panelsuspension room-subdividing tracks for alignment therewith, and amultiplicity of partition panels suspended from and movably mounted onsaid transfer tracks for interchange to and from said room-subdividingtracks.

2. A movable partition system, according to claim 1, wherein said systemalso includes a partition panel storage rack adapted to be mounted inthe storage area.

3. A movable partition system, according to claim 2, wherein saidstorage rack includes a multiplicity of partition panel storage overheadtracks depending from said storage rack and disposed at approximatelythe same horizontal level as said transfer tracks for alignmenttherewith.

4. A movable partition system, according to claim 1, wherein a paneldistribution trackway is secured to and depends from the storage areaceiling and extends to the room area, and wherein said transportercomprises a panel carrier suspended from said distribution trackway intraveling relationship therealong.

5. A movable partition system, according to claim 4, wherein said systemalso includes a partition panel storage rack adapted to be mounted inthe storage area and having a multiplicity of partition panel storagetracks disposed at approximately the same horizontal level as 8 saidtransfer tracks of said panel carrier for alignment therewith andtransfer of panels between said storage tracks and said transfer tracks.

6. A movable partition system, according to claim 1, wherein each ofsaid panels has a trolley device secured to the top thereof insuspending relationship therewith and in suspended relationship to saidpartition panel suspension tracks.

7. A movable partition system, according to claim 6, wherein saidtrolley device includes supporting wheel mounting means secured to thetop of each panel and a plurality of supporting wheels rotatably mountedin said wheel-mounting means in rolling supported engagement with saidpartition panel suspension tracks.

8. A movable partition system, according to claim 4, wherein saiddistribution trackway includes a plurality of tracks disposed inlaterally-spaced parallel relationship, and wherein said panel carrierincludes a carriage mounted on each distribution track for traveltherealong, said carriages being disposed in laterally-spaced parallelrelationship, said transfer tracks being disposed transversely to saidcarriages in interconnecting relationship therewith.

9. A movable partition system, according to claim 8, wherein each ofsaid panels has a trolley device secured to the top thereof insuspending relationship therewith and in suspended relationship to itsrespective transfer track.

10. A movable partition system, according to claim 1, wherein there isprovided a locking alignment device including a lock keeper mounted onthe end portion of one of said tracks, and a locking member movablymounted on the end portion of the other cooperating track alignabletherewith, said locking member having a panelengaging andkeeper-engaging portions alternately engageable with said panel andkeeper, and means responsive to the moving of said locking member intoalignment with said keeper for disengaging said locking member fromlocking engagement with said panel and engaging said locking member inlocking aligning relationship with said keeper.

11. A movable partition system, according to claim 10, wherein saidkeeper is movably mounted on its respective track for motion into andout of the path of travel of said locking member in response to thetravel of said panel transporter.

12. A movable partition system, according to claim 1, wherein each panelincludes a vertically expansible base closure yieldingly and rockablysecured to the lower end portion thereof for tilting motion lengthwisethereof and also includes means for simultaneously raising and loweringthe opposite ends of said closure out of and into selfaligningengagement with the floor.

13. A movable partition system for transfer between a storage area and aroom area of a building with a floor and a ceiling, said systemcomprising a plurality of partition panel suspension room-subdividingtracks secured to and depending from the room area ceiling inlaterally-spaced relationship,

a partition panel transporter mounted for travel between the storagearea and the room area,

said transporter having thereon a multiplicity of partition paneltransfer tracks secured in depending relationship thereto atapproximately the same horizontal level as said partition panelsuspension room-subdividing tracks for alignment therewith,

a multiplicity of partition panels suspended from and movably mounted onsaid transfer tracks,

and a locking alignment device including a lock keeper mounted on theend portion of one of said tracks,

a locking member movably mounted on the end portion of the othercooperating track alignable therewith,

9 said locking member having panel-engaging and keeper-engaging portionsalternately engageable with said panel and keeper, and means responsiveto the moving of said locking member into alignment with said keeper fordisengaging said locking member from locking engagement with said paneland engaging said locking member in locking aligning relationship withsaid keeper,

said keeper being movably mounted on its respective track for motioninto and out of the path of travel of said locking member in response tothe travel of said panel transporter, said locking member including akeeper-engaging portion of magnetically-attached material,

and said keeper including a magnet disposed in magnetically-attractingrelationship to said keeper-engaging portion,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSEmerson Apr. 12, King Mar. 14, Kunkel Dec. 22, Fletcher May 9, TellefsonJuly 31,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 14, France Oct. 25,

1. A MOVABLE PARTITION SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER BETWEEN A STORAGE AREA AND AROOM AREA OF A BUILDING WITH A FLOOR AND A CEILING, SAID SYSTEMCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PARTITION PANEL SUSPENSION ROOM-SUBDIVIDINGTRACKS SECURED TO AND DEPENDING FROM THE ROOM AREA CEILING INLATERALLY-SPACED RELATIONSHIP, A PARTITION PANEL TRANSPORTER MOUNTED FORTRAVEL BETWEEN THE STORAGE AREA AND THE ROOM AREA, SAID TRANSPORTERHAVING THEREON A MULTIPLICITY OF PARTITION PANEL TRANSFER TRACKS SECUREDIN DEPENDING RELATIONSHIP THERETO AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME HORIZONTALLEVEL AS SAID PARTITION PANEL SUSPENSION ROOM-SUBDIVIDING TRACKS FORALIGNMENT THEREWITH, AND A MULTIPLICITY OF PARTITION PANELS SUSPENDEDFROM AND MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSFER TRACKS FOR INTERCHANGE TO ANDFROM SAID ROOM-SUBDIVIDING TRACKS.